Household mixer



Feb- 23 1965 J. R. GoMERsALL Erm. 3,170,574

HOUSEHOLD MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. l, 1960 Feb- 23, 1965 J. R. GoMERsALL l-:TAL 3,170,674

HOUSEHOLD MIXER Filed Aug. 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. E 59 f7.

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Feb- 23, 1965 J. R. GOMERsALl. ETAL 3,170,674

HOUSEHOLD MIXER Filed Aug. 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 23, 1965 J. R. GoMERsALL ETAL. 3,170,674

HOUSEHOLD MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1, 1960 will im. ff

United States Patent l HOUSEHOLD MIXER i .lohn R. Gomersall, deceased, late of Elgin, Ill., by

Florence Judith Gomersall, executrix, Elgin, Ill., Murray Ireland, Elgin, and Philip E. Willman, St. Charles, Ill., assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,845 3 Claims. (Cl. 259-1) This invention relates-,to electric"V appliances such as household mixers and the like.

. Electric food mixers are generally of three types; those consisting merely of a mixer head, commonly referred to as portable mixers; those which consist of a mixer head xedly attached to a mixer stand; and a combination of the first two which has a mixer head releasably supported on a mixer stand so that the head may be used with the stand or as a portable mixer. Regardless of the type of mixen-it is recognized that some means of mechanically ejecting the beaters from the mixer head is desirable. `Some attempts have been made to supply sucha beater release mechanism, but these attempts have all possessed the undesirable feature that many times'the mechanical ejector is actuated while the beaters are being driven. This, in addition to` possibly damaging the beaters, is'messy and presentsquite a vexatious problem to the housewife. One proposed solution to this problem `was `toposition the beater release actuating buttonaway from the areas normally contacted by the housewife.

when the mixer is in use. However, the possibility of accidental ejection is still present regardless of where the beater release actuating button is positioned.

Also, common practice in the use'ofa mixer is to dis assemble it when not'in use, eg.,` remove the beaters and electric cord. The problem then becomes one of safe and convenient storage.v For f example, the beaters are generally stored in a drawer Wherethey can be A.damaged and, further, when the beaters:` and cord are separated from the mixer'they may quite easily be lost.

This invention contemplates'providing a household mixer including beater release mechanism having associated therewith 'means for selectively-preventing actuation of the beater release mechanism, which means is in turn controlled by the control means for the mixer motor so that the beater release mechanism cannot be actuated while the mixer motor is running. It is also contemplated to provide a mixer stand which will accommodate the disassembled parts of the mixer for safe and convenient storage.

3,170,674 If'aterrtecl Feb. 23, 1965 ice These and other objects and advantages of this invenl tion will become more readily apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the draw ings in which: Y t.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an electric household mixer embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the forward portion of the mixer head with the outer vhousing removed to expose the beater release mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of only the beater release mechanism of FIG. 2;

l FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the frontV portion of the rnixer head with the bottom cover plate removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectionalrview taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

stand;

FIG. 8 is a view of the upper end Vonly of the support arm of the mixer stand;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 9-9 Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to prot videa` household mixer having aj beater release mechanism which cannot be operated while the mixer motoris running. t. A Y i A Another object ofthis invention is to provide a beater release mechanism which is associated,with and. controlled bydc'ontrol means for the mixer motor so' that the beaterrelease cannot be actuated while 'the motor is running.-

A further object ofthis inventionisto provide safe and convenient storage for a mixer.

A still further object 'of this 'invention isto` provide FIG. 10 is a view, in perspective, of a portion of the mixer stand. v

In the drawings, an 'electric household mixer 1 is illustrated 'as including a Vhead 3 and stand 5. The head 3 includes suitable driving means (not shown) such as'an electric motor connected to' and rotatably driving a pair of beaters 7. The beaters 7 are releasably supported in the head 3 in a manner to be described more particularly hereinafter. v

The stand 5 includes'a base portion 9 and support means in the form of a collapsible arm 11 the upper end of which releasably supports the mixer head 3. Base portion 9 also includes a rotatable disk 13 `for supporting a mixing bowl (not shown) below the beaters 7.

Reference will now bernade to FIGST 246 for amore y complete description of the beater release mechanism and the means provided for preventing actuation-,of the beater release mechanism while the mixer motor is running;

A-shaft 15 extends from the mixer motor to argear box 17. Extending from the bottom of the gear box 17 .are two'stub shafts 19,' each disposed in a post 21. Disbeaters in the mixer head and connect the beaters tothe Va mixer stand will accommodate the disassembled L stub shafts 19 so that they Ycan be rotatably driven `by the mixer motor. v

A preferred form .of beater release mechanism iny accordance with lthis inventionY includes an ejector plate 27" pivotally connected inthe mixer head 3 adjacent the beaters 7 and movable into engagement with the beaters to eject them from the mixer head. Ejector plate 27 includes agenerally at body portion 29 and a pair of `side arms 31. -The ends 33 of the arms 31 are turnedfinwardly and are each provided'with a notch 35. The

notched ends 33cooperate with recesses-37 in ribV por- 83 attached to the actuating lever 61.

of the lever 79 is bent at right angles tothe lever79 and is disposed in an aperture `95 in the support-plate 63l so as to have a-*portion '87 extendingV on oneiside Vof tions 39 of the mixer head 3 to provide a pivot point about which the ejector plate 27 is movable.

A plate 41, preferably stainless steel, closes the underside of the forward portion of the mixer head 3 and is fixed in position by means of a mounting bracket 43 and screw 45. The cover plate 41 includes an aperture 47 through which an arcuate beater engaging arm 49, which is integral with the body portion 29 of the ejector plate 27, passes upon actuation of the beater release mechanism. A spring 51 extends between an apertured lip 53 of the mounting bracket 43 and an apertured arm 55 of the ejector plate 27 and normally urges the ejector plate 27 upwardly and out of the aperture 47. VEach of the beaters 7 is provided with a generally circular flange`57 which, upon actuation of the beater release mechanism, is engaged by the arcuate1arm-49 of the ejector plate 27 so that the beaters can be ejected from the'mixer head. i

Means for moving the ejector platel27 into and out of engagement with the beaters 7 is provided 'andin- 'clude-s a beater release'button 59 and anaetuating Vlever 61. The beater release button 59 extends through ,the upper portion ofthe mixer head 3 and is rotatablyV mounted on a support plate 63. The supportV plate 63 `is preferably metallic to vgive adequate support and yis -held ina vertical position by means of a pair of upstanding grooved `arms l64 whichl are attached to the gear box 417. VThe -projections V'71 and 69 at its upper andlower ends'respectively. The projection 69 ts into an-aperture73 inthe ejector yplate 27, and the projection 71-engages the link 67. The actuating lever 61 then operatively connects the beater releasebuttonf59 tothe ejector plate 27 and transfers the motion of the beater release button to the ejector plate Z7 for beater ejection.

Mechanical ejection of the beater" 7 -is'then accomplished by rotating the beater release button '59 to displace the bracket 67, which lbracket in turn displaces the actuating lever 61. Displacement of -the actuatingy lever 61 produces movementof "the ejector plate-27V and extension ofthe arcuate beater engaging arm -49 through the aperture 47 and into 'engagement with the fianges 57. Continued movement of the beater release button 59 forces the projections 25 of -the beaters 7 out of engagement with stub shafts 19 to thereby release the beaters from the head 3.

VTo ilimit the `travel 'of the beater release button 59,

.the button is provided with a raised portion 75 which, -upon rotation of the button 59, travels in an arcuate slot 7'7 in the upperlend of the support plate 63. The opposed -ends oftheslot 77 providevstops 'for the beater release button in both directions of rotation and prevent overtravel of the beater release button 59in either direction. Stop means is provided for selectivelyv locking the -beater release mechanism against motion and'freeing the beater release mechanism for movement' to eject the beaters from the mixer head. The stop meanspreferably includes a lever 79 rotatably connected to "the support plate 63 by means of a headed pin 81 and a projection The :upper end the support plate 63 and a portion S9 extending von the opposite side 'of the support plate 63. A coil spring 91 is disposed onthe pin 81 andengages `suitable tabs 93 and 95 of the support'plate 63 and the lever 79 respectively. The spring 91 normally urges -the lever 79 into the dot-dash position shown in FIG. in whicheposii tionV the projection 87 engages the projection 83, ofthe vthe motor. tab 121 is provided'andY is adapted to receive one of the lineleads.

4 actuating lever 61, thereby locking the beater release mechanism against motion. When the lever 79 is in the full line position illustrated in FIG. 5 the beater release mechanism is free to move for ejection of the beaters from the mixer head.

To insure that the beater release mechanism cannot be actuated while the mixer motor is running, the stop means just described is associated with and controlled by the same means which is provided for energizing and deenergizing the motor of the mixer.

The mixer motor control means preferably takes the form of switch means 97 and in order to facilitate the description of the cooperation between the motor control means and the stop for the beater release mechanism a brief description of switch means- 97 .will be made.

The switch means 97 includes a switch actuating button 99 rotatably mounted on a suitable fiber electrically insulating support plate 101. The support plate 101 is held in a vertical position by means of upstanding grooved arms 103 attached to the gear box 17 and identical to l the mount-ing arms 64. The switch actuating button 99 is rotatablyconnected tothe support plate 101 by means of a headed pin 105. Alsomountedon the headed pin 105 and fixed t0 and rotatable with the switch actuating button 99 is a movable -electric contact arm 107. The electrical contact arm 107 is movable between an off Vposition and preferably a plurality of on positions.v Referring to FIG. 6, in-the position as illustrated the electrical contacharm 107 is in the off position and by counterclockwise rotation of the :switch actuating button? 99 the rcontact arm 107 can be moved into engagement with any one of threestationary electrical contactsl'109, 111, and 113. The stationary electrical contacts .109,3'111 and 113 correspondrespectively to low, medium and The second springarm. 117 rotates with the movable .contact 107 and'the recess 119 is vcomplementary tothe `apertures 115. Thus as the switchactuating .button 99 is rotated about the pin the apertures 115 .and the recess V119 cooperate to positively index andV lock the movablecontact arm 107 withrespectto any oneofy the .stationary contacts.

Electrical .energy is commonly .supplied to the mixer .motor by means of a detachable electric cord (not shown) and the switch means' 97 is yplaced in and is operative to selectively. complete :and open the electric circuit to More particularly, an electricallyY conductive The tab 121 is electrically connected to the movable contact arm :107 which then transmits elecytrical energy to any oneof the three stationary contacts.

The stationary contacts arev in turn each connected to one sideV of the mixervmotor.

To prevent overtravel of the/switch actuating button '99, stop means identical tothe stop means provided to eliminate overtravel of the beater release button 59 is `provided in the form of aprojection 123;` ony the switch .actuating button which travels in an open arcuate slot 125 vin the support plate 101.

7extending arm 127 which isso disposed asto be engageable with the projection 89 of theV lever 79. As, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the switch means 97 is in the off position the arm 127 is in engagement with projection 89 vand holds theA lever 79 in the full line position and away from the projection 83 on Athe actuating lever '61 so that lthe beater release mechanism is then free forsmovement. VAs the movable contact arm 107 is moved to` the stationary contact 109 to energize the mixer motor the laterally extending arm 127is moved to the dotted position shown in FIG. 5v thereby releasing the lever 79 which under the inliuence of the spring 91 is moved to the dotted position in FIG. 5 and engages the projection 83 of the switch actuating lever 61 to lock the beater mechanism against movement. As the movable Contact arm 107 is actuated through the remaining switch positions, namely medium and high speeds, the lever 79 remains in the dot-dash position of FIG. 5 and continues to lock the beater release mechanism against movement. Only upon return of the movable contact arm 107 to the off position, and reengagement of the arm 127 with the projection 89 and displacement of the lever 79 to the full line position and out of engagement With the projection 83, can the beater release mechanism be actuated. lt can thus be seen that a positive stop is provided which locks the beater release mechanism against movement whenever the mixer motor is energized and the beaters arel being driven so that the beaters cannot be ejected.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 7-10 for amore specific description of the novel stand 5 of this invention. The stand 5 includes a collapsible support arm 11 pivotally connected at one end to the base portion 9 of the stand 5 by means of a pin 131 and a bracket 133. The arm 11 can be pivoted between a substantially upright operating position, shown in full lines, and a collapsed storage position, shown by the dot-dash lines. When the support arm 11 is in the collapsed position it is compactly nested with the base portion 9 and the stand 5 is readily adapted for easy storage.

Locking means 135 is provided for holding the support arm 11 in its upright operating position, and preferably includes an elongated lever 137 pivotally mounted on the bracket 133 by a pin 139. The lever 137 includes an L-shaped slot 141 which engages a pin 143 that is iixed to the support arm 11. When the pin 143 is engaged in Y the shorter leg of the L-shaped slot 141 the support arm 11 is locked in the upright position. To insure continuous engagement of the pin 143 in the shorter leg ofthe slot 141 a coil spring 145 is provided on the pin V139 and suitably engages the bracket 133 and the slot 141 to urge the lever 137 into engagement With the pin 143. The L-shaped slot 141 serves the further function of providing a guide in which the pin 143 moves as the support arm 11 is lowered to its collapsed position.

The upper end of the support arm 11 is provided with hinge means 147 which releasably supports the mixer head 3. The hinge means 147 is operative between two positions, one wherein the mixer head is disposed in operating position and a second position wherein the mixer head is pivoted to swing the beater blades free of the mixing bowl so that the mixing bowl is easily removed. Thehinge means 147 includes a rotatable plate 149 supported on a pin 151 which is fixed to the support 11 by means of a bracket 153. The plate 149 has an upwardly extending arm 155 which engages the mixer head 3 as illustrated in FIG. l.

Means for indexing the hinge means 147 in either one of its two positions is provided and preferably takes the form of a ball 157 and a pair of notches 159 complementary to ball 157. The ball 157 is positioned in a bracket 161 and is urged into engagement with the notches 159 by a spring 163. FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate the vhinge meansV in both of its extreme positions.

To insure positive positioning of the mixer head, the

rotatable plate 149 is provided with a rst shoulder 165 disposed to engage the support arm 11 when the mixer head 3 is in its operating position, which isrillustrated in FIG. 7. A second shoulder 167 is provided and also engages the support arm 11, asillustated in FIG. 8, when the mixer head 3 is Vpivoted to the non-operating position to clear the beaters 7 from the mixer bowl. The weight of the mixer head holds the shoulders 165 and 167 in engagement with the support arm 11.

The base portion 9 is generally hollow'and preferably includes two partitions 169 and 171 which divide the interior of the base portion 9 into a( plurality of open-ended separate compartments 173, 175, and 177. Means in the form of a door 179 hingedly connected to the open end of the base portion 9 is provided for normally closing the open-end of base portion 9. The compartments 173, 175 and 177 accommodate Lthe beaters 7 and the electrical cord 181, as is illustrated in FIG. l0. Y l

f When the mixer is not in use the disassembled parts, such as the beaters and the electrical cord, are stored within the base portion 9. The support arm 11 is collapsed and the stand 5 can be easily stored and will occupy a minimum of space. By providing the self storing stand 5, the disassembled parts of the mixer are kept together and are stored in a manner which prevents damage to those parts.

The description of our invention in relation to a particular preferred embodiment thereof is intended for illustrative purposes only; and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments of our invention as fall Within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What we claim is:

l. In a mixer head including beater means, motor means for driving said beater means, and control means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said motor means; the combination with said beater means of an ejector plate pivotally mounted for movement into engagement with said beater means to eject said beater means from said head portion; a manually operable button independent and horizontally displaced from said control means, a lever connecting said button to'said ejector plate for moving said ejector plate into beater ejecting engagement with said beater means upon actuation of said button; a stop member pivotally mounted adjacent said lever and pivotable into and out of alever engaging position to respectively lock said lever against movement and free said lever for movement; and biasing means urging said stop member toward said lever engaging position, said control means engaging and moving said stop member out of lever engaging position when said control means is disposed in a position wherein said motor means is de-energized.

2. In a mixer head including beater means, motor means for driving said beater means, and control means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said motor means, the combination with said beater means of ejector means pivotally connected in said head adjacent to said beater means for movement into engagement with said beater means to eject said beater means from said head; actuating means independent of said control means for moving said ejector means into beater ejecting engagement with said beater means; stop means associated with said actuating means for movement into and out of an actuating means engaging position to respectively lock said actuating means againstmovement and free said actuating means for movement; and biasing means urging said stop means toward said actuating means engaging position, said control means engaging said stop means and moving said stop means out of said actuating means engaging position when said motor means is de-energized.

3. In a mixer vheard including beater means, motor means for driving said beater means, and control means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said motor means; release means independent of said control means and movable into and out of engagement with'said beater means for ejecting said beater means from said head; stop means movable between rst and second positions respectively into and outvof a releasemeans engaging position respectively to restrain said beater means against beater engaging motion and to free said release means for beater ejecting motion and biasing means urging said stop means toward one of said positions, said stop means being engageable by said control means for movement to the other of said positions, said biasing means and control s means cooperating to dispose said stop means in said rst 2,599,275 Nelson .Tune 3, 1952 position when said motor means isenergized and in said' 2,605,085 Gerry July 29, 1952 second positin only-When said motor means is de-ener- 2,737,371 Gerry Mar. 6, 1956 gzed. 2,823,017 Schaus Feb. 11, 1958 5. 2,891,745 Seyfried et al June 23, 1959 References Cited in thele of this patent 2,926,779 Jepson Mar. 1, 1960- UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES 2,202,724 Bean May 281 1949 service Bulletin & Parts List, sept. 15, 1958, Sunbeam 2,326,996 Fuge Aug 17: 1943 O Corp., pages 11-7.

2,552,054 Misic May 8, .1951 l 

1. IN A MIXER HEAD INCLUDING BEATER MEANS, MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID BEATER MEANS, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING AND DE-ENERGIZING SAID MOTOR MEANS; THE COMBINATION WITH SAID BEATER MEANS OF AN EJECTOR PLATE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEATER MEANS TO EJECT SAID BEATER MEANS FROM SAID HEAD PORTION; A MANUALLY OPERABLE BUTTON INDEPENDENT A HORIZONTALLY DISPLACED FROM SAID CONTROL MEANS, A LEVER CONNECTING SAID BUTTON TO SAID EJECTOR PLATE FOR MOVING SAID EJECTOR PLATE INTO BEATER EJECTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEATER MEANS UPON ACTUATION OF SAID BUTTON; A STOP MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID LEVER AND PIVOTABLE INTO AND OUT OF A LEVER ENGAGING POSITION TO RESPECTIVELY LOCK SAID LEVER AGAINST MOVEMENT AND FREE SAID LEVER FOR MOVEMENT; AND BIASING MEANS URGING SAID STOP MEMBER TOWARD SAID LEVER ENGAGING POSITION, SAID CONTROL MEANS ENGAGING AND MOVING SAID STOP MEMBER OUT OF LEVER ENGAGING POSITION WHEN SAID CONTROL MEANS IS DISPOSED IN A POSITION WHEREIN SAID MOTOR MEANS IS DE-ENERGIZED. 